Voting system and number of MEPs by country
The new European Parliament will have a total of 720 deputies out of a possible 751, the maximum allowed by the European Union Treaties. Elections use the proportional system to distribute seats, but each Member State decides on the other rules of its electoral system
Closed list
Voters vote on a list that cannot be changed
preferential vote
Voters can change the order of candidates on the list according to their voting preferences
Single transferable vote
Voters list candidates in order of preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.), regardless of the lists. After the votes have been counted, an electoral quotient or quota is calculated, which is the number of votes a candidate needs to be elected. Candidates who reach the quota are elected. If a candidate receives more votes than the quota, the excess votes are transferred to other candidates in proportion to the voters’ stated preferences
Minimum age of candidates
18 remains the standard age in more than half of EU countries
After the reduction with “Brexit”, the European Parliament grows again
The last legislature (2019-2024) started with 751 elected MEPs and ended with 705, due to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union (“Brexit”). Now, the European Parliament will grow again in the number of seats
Who wins places
| France | +2 |
|---|---|
| Spain | +2 |
| Netherlands | +2 |
| Poland | +1 |
| Belgium | +1 |
| Austria | +1 |
| Denmark | +1 |
| Finland | +1 |
| Slovakia | +1 |
| Ireland | +1 |
| Latvia | +1 |
| Slovenia | +1 |
Participation in European elections by country
From almost 90% electoral participation in Belgium, where voting is mandatory, to 23% in Slovakia, there is a continent of differences separating the various Member States (data from 2019)
* Countries where voting is mandatory. In Bulgaria, the sanctions provided for those who do not vote were declared unconstitutional in 2017 and do not apply
Evolution of participation in European elections
After years of successive declines, the latest elections (2019) saw an increase in the participation rate and were even the first ballot since 1994 in which more than half of the EU’s adult population voted
What the polls say
Projection of the distribution of seats in the European Parliament made by Europe Elect based on an average of the latest polls conducted in the different Member States
Key dates for new EU institutional leadership
In addition to driving the European Union’s political agenda, it is up to the European Parliament to approve the EU budget and elect the president of the European Commission or the College of Commissioners, a process that will only be completed in December
June 6th to 9th
European elections
Election of 720 Members of the European Parliament in 27 Member States. Election day is:
• June 6th in the Netherlands
• June 7th in Ireland
• June 7th and 8th in the Czech Republic
• June 8th and 9th in Italy
• June 9th in all other Member States.
From June 10th
Formation of political groups and their leaders
Political groups can be formed at any time during the legislature, but it is important that they are formed before the constituent session (16 July).
A political group must consist of at least 23 deputies elected in at least a quarter (i.e. seven) of the Member States.
June 17th
Informal meeting of EU leaders
June 27-28
European Council meeting
At this European Council meeting, EU leaders will try to agree on a package of high-level positions, including the presidents of the European Commission and European Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. For President of the Commission, the European Council proposes a candidate to Parliament, by qualified majority. The new President of the European Council is elected by a qualified majority in time to take office on 1 December.
July 16-19
Constituent plenary session of the 10th legislature
The new deputies take office from the 16th of July, with the constitutive session of the 10th legislature, from the 16th to the 19th of July, during which Parliament elects its table: the President, 14 vice-presidents and five quaestors. Once the size of the committees has been fixed by the plenary, political groups nominate committee members, seeking to find fair gender representation.
July 22-25
Constituent meetings of parliamentary committees
September 16-19
Election of the President of the European Commission
At the invitation of the President of Parliament, the candidate for President of the Commission makes a statement and presents political guidelines for his term of office. The President of the Commission is elected by the majority of the members of Parliament, by secret vote.
December 1st
Inauguration of the new President of the European Council
December 16-19
Presentation of the College of Commissioners, vote in Parliament on the investiture of the Commission and election of the European Ombudsman
Presentation of the College of Commissioners, vote in Parliament on the investiture of the Commission and election of the European Ombudsman.
The Council adopts a list of commissioners appointed at the suggestion of Member States, in agreement with the elected President of the Commission. The Speaker of Parliament requests the President-elect to inform Parliament about the planned structure and portfolio allocation in the proposed College of Commissioners, and requests that nominees appear at confirmation hearings, which are held in public by parliamentary committees.
